Social Sciences

The 24 alien books the Scientific American staff love, from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to Contact and beyond

A new investigation alleges that official organizations in Tanzania have imperiled the country's artifacts and remains at four critical human heritage sites they were supposed to protect

A new analysis of red lines inside a cave in Wales suggests they were made deliberately by ancient humans some 17,000 years ago

Fill your bingo card with fascinating science stories, discoveries and ideas all summer long for a chance to win prizes

It's not clear why the National Science Foundation may be limiting funding to certain U.S. universities

Author Jeremy Lent argues that human society runs on a flawed, exploitative worldview—and that embracing interconnectedness could enable a more sustainable future

Mosaic depictions of a weapon-wielding female gladiator are the first physical evidence showing women in ancient Rome could be skilled beast hunters

Door-building spiders; a new quantum liquid

A massive digitization project has nearly doubled the known extent of the first continent-scale road network

Letters to the editors for the February 2026 issue of Scientific American

Science in meter and verse

Play this crossword inspired by the June 2026 issue of Scientific American